Where Mac Mail Files Are Stored and How to Free Up Space

Eric DawsonByEric Dawson Computers & Software

If you’re asking where are mail files stored on Mac, Apple Mail’s main local folder is ~/Library/Mail/ in your current user account. Inside it, you may find a versioned folder such as V8 or V9, containing messages, mailbox structure, account-related data, attachments, and indexing files.

Open it in Finder by holding Option, choosing Go > Library, then opening Mail. Downloaded attachments can also live at ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads/. To reclaim space safely, remove attachments from within Mail and erase deleted items or junk mail before considering direct file removal.

Where Are Mail Files Stored on Mac?

Apple Mail keeps local data for the signed-in user in the hidden Library folder, with ~/Library/Mail/ as the main location. In that path, the tilde means the current user’s home directory. A versioned subfolder may sit below Mail, so a path can appear as ~/Library/Mail/V8 or ~/Library/Mail/V9.

Within Finder, the version number is not fixed and varies by macOS version. Mailbox data, downloaded attachments, account configurations, mailbox structure, and index-related files can all be held in the main Mail location and its subfolders. Individual mailbox packages and message files may be deeper within that structure.

Choose Go > Go to Folder, or press Shift + Command + G, then enter ~/Library/Mail/. Because Library is hidden by default, this approach reaches the current user’s Mail files without changing folder-visibility settings permanently.

Versioned folders use V followed by a number, while the asterisk in V* stands for whichever versioned folder is on the Mac. Examples include V8 and V9, but neither is a universal folder name. Their contents are part of Mail’s working local data, not an ordinary documents archive.

These folders can contain .mbox packages with names such as Inbox.mbox, Sent.mbox, and Drafts.mbox. Account folders organize Mail’s locally stored information for configured accounts and mailboxes. Packages ending in .mbox are containers for email data rather than standard folders intended for casual deletion.

Although a package can be inspected by right-clicking it and choosing “Show Package Contents,” inspection is different from routine maintenance. Treat the files inside as application data. Rather than editing them, use Mail’s built-in mailbox and attachment controls for ordinary cleanup.

For closer inspection, individual messages can appear as .emlx files, with one file representing one email message. Each Mail folder can also hold data needed for account organization and Mail’s indexes. Such files help the app function normally and locate messages during searches. Those roles explain why the total reported in macOS Storage can differ from the Finder size of ~/Library/Mail/: storage accounting can include Mail-generated cache and container data elsewhere.

Find the Mail Folder in Finder

Finder provides a direct way to open Apple Mail’s local folder without permanently showing the hidden Library directory. Begin by clicking the desktop so Finder is active, then press and hold Option while choosing Go > Library.

Open Mail Through the Hidden Library

With the Library folder open, select the Mail folder to reach the location Apple identifies for Mail data from another Mac. Once inside, look for the folders already present rather than expecting one universal layout. Entering that path opens the current signed-in user’s Mail directory directly.

Because the Library folder is normally hidden, the Option-key method is useful when browsing in Finder. Inside ~/Library/Mail/, some Macs may show a versioned folder whose name begins with V and ends in a number. When using Go to Folder, ~/Library/Mail/ opens the folder containing the versioned folders.

Versioned names vary by Mail or macOS version, so a folder such as V6, V8, or V9 is an example rather than a directory name to assume. Rather than creating or renaming a folder to match an example, open the folders that already exist on the Mac.

Use Import for Mail from Another Mac

For mail copied from another Mac, open Mail and choose File > Import Mailboxes. Choose Apple Mail when importing a mailbox exported from Mail or a folder from ~/Library/Mail/. Select the folder through the import window and continue through Mail’s prompts instead of overwriting files in an active Mail directory.

Afterward, imported messages appear in a new mailbox named Import in the Mail sidebar. Imported folders and messages can then be moved into new or existing mailboxes, and the Import mailbox can be deleted when it is no longer needed.

Where Apple Mail Stores Emails and Attachments

Apple Mail keeps mailbox structure, account-related data, attachments, and index files in ~/Library/Mail/.

Rather than relying on a particular number, treat the V* portion as a version-specific folder name that varies by macOS release. Because these parts work together, the versioned folder is not simply a cache folder to empty when trying to reduce Apple Mail storage.

Main Mail Files and Mailbox Packages

Location or item What it holds How to treat it
~/Library/Mail/ Main local Mail data Keep it intact for normal Mail operation
~/Library/Mail/V* Version-specific messages, attachments, account data, and indexes Do not assume every Mac uses the same V-number
Inbox.mbox, Sent.mbox, Drafts.mbox Mailbox packages containing email data Inspect when needed, but do not casually delete them
.emlx files Individual email messages within mailbox data Useful for inspection rather than routine cleanup
Mail Downloads Locally downloaded attachment files Save wanted files before removing local copies

Downloaded items deserve separate attention because photos, videos, and movies attached to messages can take far more space than email text. That is why the Mail Downloads folder on Mac can matter even when the visible size of ~/Library/Mail/ seems modest. Mail may also keep attachment data in a versioned Mail folder, including an Attachments folder, depending on the installed macOS version.

Why Index and Data Files Need Care

Unlike ordinary documents, mailbox packages are containers for Mail data rather than folders meant for routine housekeeping. Since a package can hold many messages, right-clicking one and choosing “Show Package Contents” is a better way to examine its structure than dragging it to Trash.

Manual deletion of broad Mail folders can affect local mailbox access, account data, and search indexing. Use Mail’s built-in attachment and deleted-mail removal commands before considering Finder-level cleanup. Keep Apple Mail Envelope Index and other index-related files out of attachment-cleanup decisions, since they support the app’s normal operation rather than serving as ordinary downloaded files.

Check How Much Space Mail Uses

macOS Storage provides the broadest view of space attributed to Mail, while Finder shows the size of the local folder you inspect. Compare both figures when you want to understand why Apple Mail seems to use more disk space than its visible messages and attachments suggest.

Open System Settings > General > Storage > Mail to review the Mail total in current macOS settings. Alternatively, Apple menu > About This Mac > More Info > Storage Settings reaches the same area. Earlier storage-management layouts can also lead through About This Mac > Storage > Manage > Mail, where attachment storage can be reviewed. Record that number before comparing it with Finder’s reported size for the local Mail folder.

Different totals are normal because Storage Settings can include files Mail generates outside the folder Finder is measuring. Cached files and container data may be included in the macOS total, including material under ~/Library/Containers. Downloaded content can also affect the total. A small-looking Mail app entry is not a complete measure of downloaded content.

Finder’s folder figure remains useful, but it answers a narrower question: how much space the selected local Mail directory occupies. Storage Settings answers how much space macOS attributes to Mail, which can include cache and container material elsewhere. Neither number by itself tells you which individual messages or attachments are responsible. Use the comparison to decide if the extra space is likely outside the folder you are inspecting, rather than assuming the two readings should match.

For a practical check, review the local Storage total first and then inspect the Mail folder’s Finder size as a separate reading. Check iCloud use independently in System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud, where Mail appears among the items saved to iCloud.

That screen concerns iCloud use rather than local disk use. Keeping those measurements separate prevents cloud storage from being confused with the space Mail occupies on the Mac. Separating local and cloud measurements makes later storage decisions clearer and easier to interpret.

How to Delete Mail Storage on Mac Safely

Start inside Mail rather than deleting files in Finder. Mail’s own commands let you save attachments you want, remove unwanted local attachments, and permanently clear deleted or junk messages without broadly changing mailbox data or indexes.

Save then Remove Attachments

Before removing anything, save attachments that you may need outside Mail. Afterward, use the following sequence to delete Mail attachments on Mac through the app:

  1. Open the message containing the attachment.
  2. Click the attachment icon, choose “Save All,” and select a destination for the files you want to keep.
  3. Select the message again and choose Message > Remove Attachments.
  4. For several messages, Shift-click the messages and choose Message > Remove Attachments.

Removing attachments this way targets the local copies Mail has downloaded. For IMAP accounts, removing an attachment from Mail also deletes the server copy, although POP3 setups can retain message and attachment copies on the server depending on account settings.

Empty Deleted and Junk Mail

Next, clear mail that has already been moved to deleted or junk mailboxes. Select the relevant mailbox in Mail, then choose Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items or Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail. Alternatively, select Trash in the Mail sidebar, press Command + A, right-click the selected messages, and choose Delete.

Clearing Trash and Junk matters because moving a message there does not by itself remove its local storage. If Trash does not empty, quit and reopen Mail, use Erase Deleted Items, review Mail > Settings > Accounts > Mailbox Behaviors, or restart the Mac. Deleting and re-adding an account is another supplied troubleshooting option.

Avoid dragging broad Mail folders, versioned folders, mailbox packages, or Apple Mail Envelope Index-related data to Trash as a first cleanup step. Those locations can hold mailbox structures, account data, messages, and files Mail uses for indexing and normal operation. Finder-based removal of downloaded attachment folders is more invasive than Mail’s attachment command, so save needed files first and favor the built-in route for routine space recovery.

Reduce Apple Mail Storage over Time

To reduce Apple Mail storage over time, limit automatic attachment downloads and keep unnecessary mail from building up locally. In Mail, choose Settings > Accounts > Account Information, then set Download Attachments to “None” for the selected account. Rather than downloading every file automatically, that setting stops future attachment downloads to the Mac. Choose it when local copies are unnecessary but you still want the account available in Mail.

Control Downloads per Account

Mailbox habits also limit the buildup of material that Mail keeps locally. Promptly deleting messages you no longer need, along with enabling automatic Trash deletion in Mailbox Behavior, helps prevent deleted items from accumulating. Large attachments deserve particular attention. Unemptied Mail Trash can also contribute to growing local storage use over time.

Accounts can add to local storage when several are configured in Mail. If an account should remain available without being active, disable it through Mail > Settings > Accounts and clear “Enable this account.” Disabling an account does not delete its data. POP account setups can also leave copies of messages and attachments on the server, depending on configuration. Consequently, consider which accounts need active local access and which can remain disabled.

Watch Signatures and New Mac Setups

Signatures that include logos count as attachments, so a simpler signature can reduce one recurring contributor to attachment storage. Likewise, setting up Mail on a new Mac can trigger downloads of all emails and attachments, rapidly using local capacity. Review the attachment choice for every account after setup, since each account can add its own downloaded content. Multiple accounts, large attachments, and downloaded mail can combine quickly.

Because that total can differ from the folder’s Finder size, do not treat a large number as a reason to remove broad Mail data folders or index files. Avoid direct deletion of Mail folders, account structures, or indexes as a routine space-saving tactic.

Avoid Deleting Mail Indexes and Data Folders

Do not delete broad Apple Mail data folders or index-related files simply to make room. Broad removal can disrupt local mailbox access, account data, and the indexes Mail uses for normal operation.

Versioned folders beneath ~/Library/Mail/, such as V8 or V9, hold more than disposable cache. Account structures, messages, mailbox organization, downloaded content, and index files can all sit within that area. Index-related items, including an Apple Mail Envelope Index, should not be treated as ordinary clutter.

Because a version number changes with macOS, it is not a signal that a folder is safe to erase. Instead, regard V* as a version-specific part of Mail’s local data, rather than a cleanup target.

Before any migration or recovery work, use Mail’s export feature to create an .mbox package copy of a mailbox.

Manual browsing still has a place when you need to inspect rather than alter a mailbox. A mailbox package such as Inbox.mbox, Sent.mbox, or Drafts.mbox can be examined with “Show Package Contents.” Treat those packages as containers, not ordinary folders for casual deletion. That makes selecting files by name a poor substitute for managing mail through the app.

Storage figures can also be misleading if a folder is judged in isolation. Finder may show a different size for ~/Library/Mail/ than System Settings reports for Mail, since macOS can count container-held and cached Mail-generated data as well.

If you are investigating unexpectedly high use, inspect Mail in System Settings before changing file structures. Mail’s local data can extend beyond the main Mail folder, including its container area and Mail Downloads. Such differences do not make versioned folders, mailbox packages, or index files safe deletion candidates.

This guide does not map every macOS release to a specific V-number folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Does Apple Mail Store Emails?

Apple Mail stores local data in the current user’s hidden Library folder, principally at ~/Library/Mail/. Open Finder, hold Option, choose Go > Library, then open the Mail folder. Versioned folders such as V8 or V9 may appear inside, with the number varying by macOS version.

What Is the Mail Downloads Folder on Mac?

Downloaded Mail attachments may be stored at ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads/. Attachment data may also appear in a versioned folder under ~/Library/Mail/. Videos, photos, and movies attached to messages can take up substantial local storage.

Can I Delete Mail Attachments on Mac Without Deleting the Email?

Use Mail’s built-in attachment controls for the least destructive approach. Open a message and choose Message > Remove Attachment, or select multiple messages and choose Message > Remove Attachments. Save needed files first by clicking the attachment icon, choosing Save All, and selecting a destination.

Why Does MacOS Storage Show More Mail Space than the Mail Folder?

macOS Storage can count Mail-generated files beyond ~/Library/Mail/, including cache and container data under locations such as ~/Library/Containers. As a result, the Mail total in System Settings > General > Storage > Mail may not match the Finder size of the Mail folder alone. Downloaded messages and attachments can also account for much of the space.

How Can I Reduce Mail Storage?

Start by removing unwanted attachments through Mail and emptying deleted mail and junk with Mailbox > Erase Deleted Items and Mailbox > Erase Junk Mail. To limit future downloads, go to Mail > Settings > Accounts > Account Information and set Download Attachments to None. Automatic Trash deletion and promptly deleting unneeded messages can also help.

Can I Delete the Envelope Index?

Mail folders, account structures, and index files support normal Apple Mail operation, so deleting broad folders can affect local mailbox access, indexing, and account data. Manual cache-clearing advice includes removing items from a versioned Mail folder, but Mail’s built-in attachment and mailbox cleanup commands are the safer first choice. Exporting a mailbox as an .mbox package can provide a copy before migration or potentially risky cleanup.

For most Mac users, ~/Library/Mail/ is the main starting point for locating local Apple Mail data, while the Mail Downloads container can hold additional attachments. Check System Settings storage for the broader total, but use Mail’s own commands before manually removing files in Finder. Target attachments, deleted mail, and junk first, then reduce future growth by changing the Download Attachments setting for each account.

References

Sources read in September 2026.

Eric Dawson

I'm Eric Dawson, and I write The Money Watch from north Columbus, Ohio. Most of what I cover comes from my own life: renting, a 2014 Honda Fit, parking, computers, food and the bills behind all of it. I spent four years in an apartment-property office and eleven on a distributor's operations desk, reading leases and invoices. Where you need real information, I research the maker's or agency's own page and independent sources and report what they publish. I don't give tax, investment, legal or medical advice.